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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Home Decor - Poinesetta Topiary

I really stressed over this project. I couldn’t decide what I should make. I thought about a wall quote but I couldn’t think of a good one. I thought about several other things and finally I thought about a topiary. It was really simple to make and you can decorate it as you wish.

I think it turned out really nicely and I hope my friends do also since this will become a prize at my Christmas party. I think these would be great for table tops or even centerpieces.

I used Winter Woodland and Mini Monograms for the project.

I do have the cut file for the POINSETTA TOPIARY and the number of flowers is set to cover a 2.5” Styrofoam ball.

Step 1. Gather your supplies

4” clay pot

dowel rod

2.5” Styrofoam ball

wired ribbon

floral pins

Step 2. You will want to cover your ball with what ever material you choose. Spanish moss would work but I used batting and ribbon since it is what I had available. To hold the materials on the ball just use some of the floral pins. Also you will want to decorate your clay pot however you wish. I painted mine white and then sponge painted with gold paint. I placed Styrofoam in the bottom of the pot for the dowel rod to go in. I covered the foam with a circle of green paper by gluing the paper to the Styrofoam. I used the large Daisy punch to cut flowers and then turn up the leaves and then just glued them to the light green paper.

Step 3. You will want to decorate your dowel rod at this point. I just wrapped some of the wired ribbon around the dowel rod. It could be painted also. You will want to find the center of the ball and poke the dowel rod in the hole, pushing to about half way into the ball.

Step 4. Using the cut file you will get cuts for 32 flowers. I used 2 different colors of green for the leaves and 3 colors for the flowers. But you can do it however you wish. The centers of poinsettas are yellow but I opted to go with a gold. I did use Stardream for the flowers. Colors used were for the leaves - Fairway and Emerald; for the flowers - Rose Quartz, Mars and Opal; for flower center – Gold. Embellish the flowers however you wish. I put my through the Cuttlebug using the D’Vine Swirls folder and then dotted with a white pen and gold pen. You will also get the sign for the Season’s Greetings cut in the cut file also.

Step 5. I used one of the floral pins to find where I needed to poke holes for them to fit on the leaves. You want it in the center to where you know the flower will cover the metal pin. But don’t get nervous about it since the leaves are on the edges so anywhere in the general center will do.

Step 6. I poked the first one and then used it as a pattern to poke holes for the remaining flowers. I used a Tim Holtz poky tool *okie knows that probably isn’t the proper name for the tool* to poke the holes. I placed a mousepad under the paper so the tool could go through without any problem.

Step 7. Next you will want to put your pins through all the leaves. If some of the pins are off a little don’t worry it won’t hurt even if your paper tears a little it will be sturdy after you get it all together.

Step 8. Assembly your centers on to your flowers and then assembly your flowers on to your green leaves base. I used the Scotch Quick Dry glue since it is sturdy glue and I wanted good coverage. You might have to turn the flowers a few times to get it lined up.

Step 9. I already had my topiary done when I went to do this picture so that is why the Styrofoam ball isn’t covered. But this is when you will want to cover the ball with the flowers. They poke in nice and easy and are very snug, no worries about them falling out by using the floral pins. You might need to move them around some *okie did several times* in order to get them how you want. If you feel you don’t have enough flowers don’t panic you can always cut a few more.

Step 10. Assemble the sign together. You will need to offset one color of the lettering on top of the other to get the shadow effect. Decorate the mats however you desire. I used a 3/8” eyelet in the hole for extra strength so the paper wouldn’t tear when assembling with the ribbon.

Step 11. Assemble your covered ball and dowel rod into the Styrofoam of the clay pot. Tie your sign with your ribbon to the dowel rod just below the ball. And there you have your topiary!

Okie! I love your topiary and so does everyone else!! Make sure you check out the comments that are being left on the CWTC blog, because they are leaving ya lots of love over there!

The women's ministry at my church is doing a ladies luncheon for Christmas and your topiary would be PERFECT for the centerpieces!!! Thank you so much for the idea... I have a meeting today about it and I can check something off the list before I even get there! LOL!

Okie, this is great!! This idea could be adapted to SOO many occasions!!! Done up all in white for a wedding, pastels for Easter, the possibillities are endless!!!Thanks for sharing another great project!

Fantastic project Okie!!! I love this centerpiece! Hmmmm, wondering if I cut out the pieces I can talk my DD into placing the flowers? LOL She is excellent at design when it comes to projects like this. When she was younger she would say "look, a patron" heehee.

Anyhoo...fantastic job on your guest designer week, can't wait to see what you and your cohort come up with tomorrow!!! It's triple the crafty goodness @ CWTC!!!!

OKAY...I seriously LOVE topiary...but I never buy them cause they are so expensive! I never thought about making one with the cricut...hello??? LOL!!! Thanks so much for the idea and I cant wait to try it...your is just beautiful!!!

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